FA Cup Round of 16: Aston Villa vs. Cardiff City Match Preview
Photo: cardiffcityfc.co.uk/ Author unknownn
Aston Villa is set to take on Cardiff City in the FA Cup Round of 16. The match will be held in Birmingham on Friday, February 28, with kick-off scheduled for 21:00 Central European Time. A bet on the match winner is worth considering.
Match Overview
Aston Villa has not shown the same level of consistency as last season but occasionally manages to challenge top-tier teams. However, against weaker opponents, Unai Emery’s side has been prone to dropping points.
Earlier this week, Villa suffered a heavy defeat against Crystal Palace and will be eager to make amends in front of their home supporters. Cardiff presents a relatively favorable matchup, and Villa is expected to progress to the FA Cup quarter-finals with a strong performance.
Cardiff City has been absent from the Premier League for some time and has instead been focused on staying competitive in the Championship. Their current season has been underwhelming, as they sit just six points above the relegation zone after 34 games.
In their FA Cup journey so far, Cardiff has managed to advance past two rounds, securing wins against strong opponents like Sheffield United and Stoke City. While the upcoming clash against Aston Villa will be a tough challenge, Cardiff cannot be entirely ruled out.
Key Match Facts
- Aston Villa has remained unbeaten at home for the past four months.
- Cardiff City has failed to secure a victory in their last five away matches.
- Villa scores an average of 2.2 goals per home game, whereas Cardiff averages 1.4 goals per game on the road.
Predicted Lineups
Aston Villa: Martinez, Garcia, Konsa, Disasi, Digne, Tielemans, Ramsey, Rodgers, McGinn, Asensio, Rashford.
Cardiff City: Horvath, Fish, Ng, O’Dowda, Rinomhota, Mannsverk, Chambers, Willock, Ashworth, Robinson, Sales.
Head-to-Head Record
Aston Villa has emerged victorious in all previous home encounters against Cardiff City.
Prediction
The home side holds a considerable advantage and is the clear favorite heading into this fixture. While Cardiff is expected to put up resistance, a reasonable bet would be on the visitors with a +2.5 goal handicap.
Recommended Bet: Cardiff City (+2.5)